SRI LANKA CULTURAL TRIANGLE
Referring to the area between the former capitals of Kandy, Anuradhapura, and Polonnaruwa, the Cultural Triangle contains some of the island’s, if not the world’s, finest ancient monuments
The dry-zone north of Kandy holds the secrets to the story of ancient Sri Lankan civilization. These ruins, even seen today, are simply staggering. At Anuradhapura, the first capital, centuries of kings constructed the largest stupas the world had ever seen. Only 10 km (6 miles) east, Mihintale, a monastic city, grew up around the cave that sheltered the island’s first disciple of Buddhism, Mahinda. The medieval capital, Polonnaruwa, further south, displays some of the best-preserved buildings and colossal carved rock sculptures. In the middle of the area lies Sigiriya, where a usurper defied engineering laws and built a royal palace in the sky on top of a loaf-shaped giant rock. Anyone of these four sites is enough to impress even the most worldly traveler; taken together they are overwhelming.
A good base from which to explore the remainder of the region is Habarana, a village with hotels built for just this purpose. If you have time, spending a night or two in the numerous hotels around the sites gives you more of a flavor of the area. The best way to visit the Sri Lankan Cultural Triangle is by vehicle, complete with a driver who will also act as a guide. Most hotels in the region should be able to provide this service for you, although the rate will be much higher than through a travel agent or tour operator. You can pick and choose what to see according to taste and the amount of time you have, but remember, the Triangle also includes numerous lesser sites. Most can be visited en route, but others are less accessible unless you have a lot of time. When planning your itinerary, study the map and the places described. You can also contact your Ranfer Travels representative for more advice and suggestions.